As always, I’m ready for NXT TakeOver: Phoenix. There are only five matches on the card, but each match packs a punch (no pun intended). I don’t think there will be too many title changes, but there will probably be at least one.
Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Aleister Black for the NXT Championship
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
Who I Would Book to Win: Tommaso Ciampa
Right now, Tommaso Ciampa is one of the best champions in recent WWE history. Ciampa is the total package: in-ring ability, charisma, and mic skills. Taking the championship of off him would be a bad idea.
Plus, I can’t imagine Aleister Black winning the NXT Championship again. In fact, I think Black may appear in Sunday’s 30-man Royal Rumble Battle Royal match. Plus, it’s not as if Black hasn’t had a prosperous title reign not so long ago.
Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair for the NXT Women’s Championship
Winner: Shayna Baszler
Who I Would Book to Win: Bianca Belair
The EST of NXT, Bianca Belair, is currently UN-DE-FE-AT-ED in NXT singles competition. Shayna Baszler will hand Belair her first L. But losing to the current NXT Women’s Champion isn’t a bad way to end an undefeated streak.
I do think Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke will help Baszler to pick up the win. Personally, I would like to see Belair win the NXT Women’s Championship, and Baszler makes her main roster début at the Royal Rumble. I would love to see Baszler enter the Women’s Royal Rumble Battle Royal or cost Sasha Banks the Raw Women’s Championship.
The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong) (c) vs. War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) for the NXT Tag Team Championship
Winner: The Undisputed Era
Who I Would Book to Win: The Undisputed Era
Is 2019 the year of The Undisputed Era? Adam Cole says it is. And every member of The Undisputed Era will be an NXT champion. If Cole’s prophecy is correct, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong will retain. And eventually Cole will win the NXT Championship and Bobby Fish will win the NXT North American Championship.
Ricochet (c) vs. Johnny Gargano the NXT North American Championship
Winner: Johnny Gargano
Who I Would Book to Win: Ricochet
Out of all the matches on the card, this match is the hardest for me to predict. At times, it seems as if the WWE is planning to reunite Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. So, it wouldn’t make sense to me to put the North American Championship in Gargano.
Matt Riddle vs. Kassius Ohno
Winner: Matt Riddle
Who I Would Book to Win: Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle vs Kassius Ohno is my favorite NXT feud right now. The storytelling has been superb, and the story is simple but classic. Ohno, the vet, gets shown up by the rookie, Riddle. Ohno challenges Riddle to another match and loses again. This pushes the vet to his breaking point, so he tries to end the rookie’s career. Now, at TakeOver the rookie and the vet must meet face to face. I’m predicting Riddle to win once again.
